Nothing demonstrates holiday cheer better than changing the exterior experience of your house. Your lawn is the first thing guests see when they visit your home. It's also the only thing your neighbors see if you never invite them inside. You don't want to decorate for just Christmas and Easter. Why not spruce up the front of your home with red, white and blue from the Fourth of July to Labor Day and really get into the spirit of things? The outside of your residence should tell people who lives inside. Here are four tips for decorating the outside of your home for the holidays.

Paperwhite Narcissus

Wreaths and a Paper Basket​Wreaths are a timeless classic employed by many people during fall and winter. They're also easy to grow in the garden. Once winter approaches, they're a timeless way to greet guests knocking on your door. And as spring approaches each year, you'll want to seriously consider having a lavender wreath perched up on your front door.

Anyone seeking something more original should consider the paper basket instead. The premise is the same. It's something that will rest on the front door, but it'll tie together a more creative exterior.​The basket should include a colorful floral arrangement embracing all the majestic colors of the season. Of particular note is the paperwhite, which will offer a dazzling white backdrop to accentuate your front door. Paperwhite Narcissus is the best choice due to the ornamental nature of the bulbs in bloom. You can grow them indoors to force them to bloom in time for the holiday decorating season.

Paperwhite Ziva

Emphasize Primary Colors

Independent of a person's favorite winter holiday, certain colors stand apart as central to the season. Since childhood, people learn to link these primary colors with snowy weather. A clever designer can sprinkle elements of these mental associations both inside and outside the home. The trick is to emphasize green, blue, red, and white in the display.

Something as simple as cutting snowflakes out of red colored paper will distinguish the exterior of a residence. Offsetting them with green snowflakes can enhance the effect even further. A quick lamination adds to the life of the decoration. The side of the home facing the street becomes a celebration of wintry weather that passersby will enjoy, never appreciating the minimal cost of the crafts project.

Decorate the Mailbox

So many mailboxes look the same. Too many people buy one, stick it in the front yard, and never think about it again. That's unfortunate since the mailbox is the first thing people see when they reach your driveway. Decorating a mailbox is easy to do and artistically fulfilling. Due to the inexpensive project cost, it's also something a creative person can update distinctly each holiday. For around $75, including the cost of a new mailbox post, an enterprising homeowner can alter a guest's perception of the housing exterior each time they visit.

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Lanterns

Nothing says December like giant bundles of lights extending across the lawn and garden. A lighting enthusiast seeking to maximize this look should consider an offbeat decoration. Holiday lanterns perform the same function as ordinary holiday lights, but they're much more attention-grabbing. By nature, they're more antique in design. They also use candles instead of electricity, which adds an unforgettable holiday aroma as guests walk past your garden.Decorating your home's exterior for the holidays is easier than you think. Follow the tips above to create a memorable look that will be the envy of your neighbors.What do you do to jazz up the front of your place?

I love this post! I've been trying to convince the husband that we need to jazz up the front of our house for summer! It looks great in fall / winter when I have decorations, etc out there but right now it's so plain!

I love seeing wreaths and a bounty of flowers outside of a house before I even enter. They're always so cheerful! This post offered so many fun tips for decorating the outside of a home. :) I especially liked the tip on focusing on primary colors. :) Have a great weekend, my friend!